Episode 76: Anxiety as a Leadership Superpower

In this episode of WiseTalk, CEO and Executive Leadership Coach Sue Bethanis hosts best-selling author and workplace mental health expert Morra Aarons-Mele. Morra hosts The Anxious Achiever podcast for LinkedIn Presents, which won the 2023 Media Award from Mental Health America, was a 2020 Webby Awards Honoree, 2022 “Best Commute Podcast” Signal Award winner, and is frequently a top 10 management podcast and top 50 business podcast. She’s passionate about helping people rethink the relationship between their mental health and their success. Morra speaks to and consults frequently with Fortune 500 companies, startups, and U.S Government agencies. She is a LinkedIn “Top 10 Voice” in mental health.

Morra is an entrepreneur and communications executive. In addition to her work in workplace mental health, Aarons-Mele founded the award-winning social impact agency Women Online and created its database of female influencers, the Mission List, which she sold in 2021. Morra was named 2020 Entrepreneur of the Year at the Iris Awards, created to recognize excellence among digital content creators. She has helped three US presidential candidates and a range of mission-driven organizations create communications, marketing, and fundraising campaigns.

Morra is also a prolific writer. Since 2004 she has covered the campaign trail, the White House, the lactation room, and the office cubicle. She has written for the New York Times, Entrepreneur, Fast Company, Slate, InStyle, O, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and the Guardian. She is the author of the new book, The Anxious Achiever: Turn Your Biggest Fears into Your Leadership Superpower, a compelling guide to managing the anxiety that comes with succeeding and leading.

Morra has degrees from the Harvard Kennedy School and Brown University. She and Nicco Mele live in Boston with their three children.